Armenian agency chides Azeri leader for going back on promises

Mediamax news agency, Yerevan
20 Sep 04

The most important event of the last week was undoubtedly NATO’s
decision to cancel the Cooperative Best Effort 2004 exercises
scheduled to be held in Azerbaijan on 14-26 September.

[Passage omitted: agency predicted this course of events]

If we trace Baku’s steps taken in January and September, it becomes
obvious that the Azerbaijani leadership acted in accord with the same
tactics – to make as much contradictory statements as possible, to
drag out time, to make promises to NATO and not to keep them. And this
testifies to an obvious lack of political will with Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev who twice in the course of the year let
marginal and extremist forces to push himself around. If in this way
the Azerbaijani leader was trying to show his “closeness with the
people” he achieved the contrary effect – from now on both inside the
country and outside it he will be perceived as a leader who can be
influenced and manipulated to achieve the necessary result. Thus,
holding quite a doubtful victory in a short-term perspective, Ilham
Aliyev has lost in a long-term perspective.

[Passage omitted: chronology of events]

The inability to keep promises played a mean trick with Ilham
Aliyev. He hoped till last that NATO would resign itself to the fact
that Azerbaijan would not let the Armenian military to take part in
the exercises. Either because of the absence of political experience
or because of some other reasons, the Azerbaijani president did not
understand that one could not openly lie to NATO and US generals. The
cancellation of the exercises at the very last moment when 200
military had already arrived in Baku became a real disgrace for
Azerbaijan. And the point is not in Azerbaijan’s “defeat” or Armenia’s
“victory” – NATO took a decisive step to defend its reputation and
credibility in the first place. The Alliance could not reconcile
itself to the fact that for the first time in the 10 years’ history of
the PfP’s [Partnership for Peace] existence one of the partner-states
had twice violated the rules of the game.

[Passage omitted: background information]

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry’s statement in relation to the
cancellation of the exercises once more demonstrated the weakness of
Baku’s arguments: “While 20 per cent of Azerbaijani territories are
still under Armenian occupation and there are over 1m refugees and
displaced persons, the Armenian leadership pursues harsher and more
unconstructive policy. Given these conditions, the participation of
Armenian servicemen in the military exercises on the territory of the
country would be impossible for Azerbaijan,” the statement read.

First, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev was pleased with the
dialogue between the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers, which
has been going on for several months already and on the basis of which
he held talks with his Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharyan in Astana
on 15 September. So, what “harsh and unconstructive position” is the
talk about?

Second, the Azerbaijani leadership knew perfectly well that the
Armenian side was going to send its military to take part in the
Cooperative Best Effort 2004 exercises, and Azerbaijan should have
refused to host the war games if it considered as unacceptable their
presence on its territory. Third, what can be said about the visit to
Baku in 2001 by Armenian officers who took part in the planning
conference of computer training under the PfP?

Everything is quite clear – in 2001 Azerbaijan was headed not by Ilham
Aliyev but by [Ilham’s father and the late President] Heydar Aliyev
who could perfectly well define political priorities. The sooner his
son learns this, the better it will be both for Azerbaijan and the
region as a whole. But if Ilham Aliyev and his entourage are going to
continue the policy of not keeping their promises and rejecting
international commitments, this will not bode well.

VISIT OF CHAIRMAN OF EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO ARMENIA TESTIFIES TO
GROWING INTEREST OF EU TO SOUTH CAUCASIAN STATES: ARMENIAN PM

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 20. ARMINFO. The visit of Chairman of European
Commission Romano Prody to Armenia testifies to the growing interest
of the EU to the South Caucasian states and it can become a new
impetus for further development of the EU-Armenia-region
relations. Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan made this
statement during his meeting with Romano Prody on Sept 18 evening. It
should be noted that R.Prody is in Yerevan within the framework of his
visit to the region.

The Armenian Governmental Press-Service told ARMINFO that Andranik
Margaryan, in particular, pointed out the importance of the visit of
Romano Prody to the region in the contest of the South Caucasian
states’ involvement into the initiate “Wider Europe. New
Neighborhood.” He said that this initiative will allow the region’s
states to deepen and expand their relations with the EU, as well as to
accelerate the processes of democratization and socio-economic
reforms. Presenting the steps on European integration to Chairman of
the European Commission, Armenian Premier pointed out the carried out
work on stimulation of trade, cooperation in the sphere of science and
research, harmonization of the Armenian Legislation with that of the
EU under program “Wider Europe. New neighborhood.” He said that
Armenia studies the program of Actions of “European Neighborhood” as
definite steps aiming implementation of the Agreement of Cooperation
and Partnership. And its national program will be elaborated in
future. Andranik Margaryan said that Armenia is waiting for beginning
of joint discussions and elaboration of the program of Actions. He
assured Romano Prody that the Armenian authorities are ready to make
their contribution to this issue.

In his turn, Romano Prody said that the EU is ready to contribute to
the South Caucasian state in establishment of a stable society based
on democratic values. He said that the European Commission will
prepare reports in the coming months on the three states of the region
to assess their progress in the sphere of political and economic
reforms, as well as in peaceful resolution of the conflicts in the
region. The sides also discussed issues of regional cooperation,
Armenian premier presented Armenia’s position, pointing out the
importance of establishment of good-neighbored relations with the
neighboring countries. The sides discussed a broad spectrum of issues
related to the Armenian-Turkish relations, peaceful settlement of the
Karabakh conflict. Simultaneously, they expressed a single opinion
that the full integration to the European structures will be
endangered without settlement of the problems existing in the
region. Considering the Karabakh conflict in this context, the sides
pointed out that restoration of economy and progress in the South
Caucasus is possible only trough establishment of peace and versatile
regional cooperation. Romano Prody said that the EU has no intention
to play a mediatory role in the conflict’s settlement, however, it
will exert serious efforts in this direction.

HAIGAZIAN UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF ARMENIAN STUDIES
Dr. Ara Sanjian
Haigazian University
Rue Mexique, Kantari
P.O. Box 11-1748
Riad El Solh 1107 2090
Beirut, Lebanon
Telefax: 961-1-349230/1; 961-1-353010/1/2
E-mail: [email protected]

CALL FOR PAPERS

“The Armenians of Lebanon:
Their Past, Present and Future”

Conference organized by the Department of Armenian Studies,
Haigazian University, Beirut, Lebanon, September 13-15, 2005.

The Department of Armenian Studies at Haigazian University is organizing
a groundbreaking academic conference entitled “The Armenians of Lebanon:
Their Past, Present and Future.” The conference will be one of the
central activities celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the founding
of the University.

This multidisciplinary gathering will analyze the Armenian presence on
the territory of modern Lebanon from ancient times to the present, with
emphasis on the period following the mass migration of Armenians to the
country in the early 1920s.

Papers are invited on aspects of Lebanese Armenian community life, such as:
. The social, economic and political history of the community from
earliest times to the present within both the Lebanese and pan-Armenian
contexts;
. Demography and geographic distribution; influx and exodus of Armenians
to and from Lebanon, and population movements within the country.
. Religious, political, philanthropic, cultural and athletic
institutions and organizations;
. Armenian media and education in Lebanon;
. Identity and psychosocial issues;
. Intellectual life, literature, culture, the arts and architecture;
. Contemporary concerns of the community and current perceptions of the
community’s future development.

Scholars from Lebanon and around the world, who are interested in
presenting papers at the conference, are requested to submit a one-page
proposal by February 1, 2005. The proposal should include, the title of
the paper, a 250-word abstract, a brief biography/institutional
affiliation of the author(s), and contact details.

All proposals will be peer reviewed by an ad hoc committee of
specialists from Haigazian University and outside. The selection
criteria are based on academic standards, including originality and
calibre of the research, theoretical insight, soundness of the
methodological approach, objectivity of analysis, and the relevance of
the paper to the conference topic. The authors of accepted papers will
be notified by March 15, 2005 at the latest.

The deadline for the drafts of accepted papers is August 1, 2005. The
organizers will circulate these drafts to the other participants before
the opening of the conference.

The presentations should be a maximum of 25 minutes. An equal amount of
time will be allocated during the conference for the discussion of each
paper.

The conference will take place on the Haigazian University campus on
Tuesday to Thursday, September 13-15, 2005.

The working language of the conference will be English. The papers
should preferably be presented in either English or French. However, the
organizers will consider papers in Armenian and Arabic as well.

Haigazian University has limited funds to provide travel and
accommodation assistance to some of the participants. Presenters
requiring such assistance should submit a request along with their
proposal.

Selected conference papers will be published as a special volume of the
Haigazian Armenological Review. The deadline for the final papers will
be set for approximately six months after the September 2005 gathering
(March 2006). It is hoped that in the final version authors will take
into consideration ideas and suggestions aired during the discussion of
their presentations at the conference.

Proposals should be submitted, by February 1, 2005, to:

Dr. Ara Sanjian
Department of Armenian Studies
Haigazian University
Rue Mexique, Kantari
P.O. Box 11-1748
Riad El Solh 1107 2090
Beirut, Lebanon
Telefax: 961-1-349230/1; 961-1-353010/1/2
E-mail: [email protected]

The organizers also welcome your comments, inquiries or suggestions
regarding this conference at the same address.

Tamed pachyderms become Bengal’s white elephants

Indo-Asian News Service
September 20, 2004

Kolkata, Sep 20 : There is a sudden glut of elephants bred in captivity
in West Bengal, and the state’s cash strapped forest department is
finding it difficult to maintain them.

There are 76 of them now in the state’s various reserve forests
stretching the state’s means, but the authorities have allegedly ignored
opportunities to “gift away” some of the animals to other states and
countries.

The elephants are a drain on the resources till they reach the age of
8-10 years or six ft in height when they can be put to use, local
reports said.

Trained elephants are usually used to patrol forests, carry tourists on
jungle safaris and capture wild animals, particularly untamed elephants.

These animals live in the forests of Jaldapara, Buxa and Gorumara in
north Bengal with their trainers.

Forest officials said these trained elephants were breeding fast and it
was becoming difficult for them to maintain them.

The forest department has identified more than a dozen elephants from
the 76 now available that could be given away to others, but the
government reportedly hasn’t moved on the suggestion.

“It requires a lot of money to maintain elephants bred in captivity.
Besides, a large number of trained manpower is needed to train these
animals,” a forest official said.

One option is to give away the animals to others needing them. And there
are quite a few takers at home and abroad.

But the state government is unmoved. It recently let slip a chance to
send one of the 76 elephants to Armenia as a gift to its President
Robert Kocharian.

There is a male elephant in Armenia’s Yerevan Zoo, but it needs a female
companion. Bengal’s forest officials had chosen Shakuntala, a
six-year-old well-mannered young elephant. However, the government sat
on the proposal and now Shakuntala has missed the flight.

Instead, Komala, a seven-and-a-half year old female elephant from Mysore
zoo will be flying to Armenia by Oct 15.

Other Indian states have also asked West Bengal for elephants, but the
state government is not acting yet.

“After a point it will be difficult to maintain any more trained
elephants. There is a glut already. We need to take steps before these
become really and truly white elephants,” an official said.

PRESS RELEASE

September 20, 2004

American University of Armenia Corporation
300 Lakeside Drive, 4th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
Telephone: (510) 987-9452
Fax: (510) 208-3576

Contact: Gohar Momjian
E-mail: [email protected]

AUA HOSTS INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH CONFERENCE

The Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (ASPHER)
selected the American University of Armenia’s (AUA) College of Health
Sciences, in conjunction with Armenia’s Ministry of Health, to host the
XXVII Annual ASPHER conference to be held from September 17-25, 2005. The
conference `Educating the Public Health Workforce: Development Perspectives
for the European and Mediterranean Regions,’ is the first time to be hosted
by a former Soviet Republic and coincides with the 10th Anniversary of the
College of Health Sciences. Over 200 hundred delegates from countries of
Eastern Europe and the Middle East are expected to attend the Yerevan
conference.

ASPHER is an association of institutions committed to strengthening the
public’s health by improving the training of public health professionals for
both practice and research within the World Health Organization (WHO)
European Region. Deans and directors of schools of public health and health
management, as well as faculty members, students, and representatives of
professional public health organizations from the region, will be present.

At AUA’s initiative, the ASPHER conference will formally involve several
schools of public health and health management from WHO’s Eastern
Mediterranean Region. AUA President and Dean of the College of Health
Sciences, Dr. Haroutune Armenian, noted, `We are delighted to bring this
prestigious conference to Armenia and to share with our colleagues from
Europe Armenia’s progress in the public health field. We are pleased that
Armenia’s geographic proximity to the Middle East enables AUA to reach out
and include participation from the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region.’

AUA’s College of Health Sciences is affiliated with the Johns Hopkins
Bloomberg School of Public Health and offers a Master of Public Health (MPH)
degree. The MPH program has graduated approximately 100 students who now
occupy key positions in the private and public health sectors, including
Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Health. The College, in cooperation with the
Ministry of Health of Armenia, also sponsors the School for Health Care
Management and Administration (SHCMA). The SHCMA is led by former Minister
of Health Mihran Nazaretyan and provides continuing education in health
management and related areas.

—————————————-

The American University of Armenia is registered as a non-profit educational
organization in both Armenia and the United States and is affiliated with
the Regents of the University of California. Receiving major support from
the AGBU, AUA offers instruction leading to the Masters Degree in eight
graduate programs. For more information about AUA, visit

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
09/20/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://

1) Threats to Freedom of Press in Pending Turkish Penal Code
2) Prime Minister Margarian Addresses Nation on Occasion of Independence Day
3) Merzliakov Refutes Statements in Azeri Press
4) Celebrations Mark Anniversaries of Anjar and Musa Ler
5) Parliament Member Mushegh Movsisian Passes Away
6) AYF Gears up for 2nd Annual Little Armenia Cleanup
7) Is Our Community Obsessed with Smoke and Mirrors?

OUR NEXT ISSUE: Due to the Armenia’s Independence Day holiday, Asbarez Online
will not be posted on Tuesday, September 21; our next issue will be
posted on
Wednsday, September 22.

1) Threats to Freedom of Press in Pending Turkish Penal Code

ANKARA (Combined Sources)–The Turkish parliament adjourned late last week
without passing key reforms to its penal code–something the European
Commission has said is necessary to the country’s bid to join the 25-nation
trade bloc.
The debate in Turkish parliament stalled as legislators disputed whether to
include a provision criminalizing adultery, something the EU also opposes.
The Istanbul-based Armenian newspaper Marmara reports that the pending
package
includes two very controversial articles–passed earlier by
parliament–dealing
with the freedom of expression and freedom of press; the articles call for
punishment of imprisonment for writings and announcements that appear in the
press, that counter Turkey’s national interests.
Articles 5 and 6 of paragraph 127 of Turkey’s penal code even cite literal
examples of what would be punishable under that code. Publishing for example,
writings that read: “The Turkish army must pull-out of Cyprus,” or “Armenians
were subject to genocide during the Ottoman Empire,” fall into the category of
going against national interests, and call for imprisonment.
In debating the proposals, certain parliament members suggested softening the
tone of the articles, but they passed intact.
What is even more interesting is that Turkey, in its bid to join the EU,
recently passed laws banning imprisonment for any acts concerning freedom of
press.
Marmara reports that in all, the penal code under consideration contains 20
articles that hinder freedom of press in Turkey.
But EU enlargement commissioner Guenter Verheugen said on Sunday that the
European Union will not open membership talks with Turkey unless the country
passes a human-rights reform package, his strongest remarks on the issue so
far.
The commission is expected to present on October 6, its recommendation on
whether to start entry talks with Turkey, and Verheugen said it would
recommend
against it unless the package is passed.
“The criminal reforms are an indispensable pre-requisite for the
establishment
of membership negotiations,” Verheugen said.
“Only with these reforms can we certify that Turkey is a just state in which
human rights are taken into account. The commission will make it clear that
the
membership negotiations cannot come so long as this central element is not
fulfilled.”
If they do include the provision, Verheugen said it “would with certainty not
survive the membership negotiations.”
“Now comes the moment of truth,” Verheugen said. “Turkey must find the
strength to reconcile traditional Turkish values with European values.
European
values are non-negotiable.”
Verheugen even summoned the Turkish ambassador on Saturday to ask for
clarification on Ankara’s position on the code.
The summons followed a public dispute between Verheugen and Turkish Prime
Minister Tayyip Erdogan last week, when Erdogan bluntly told the EU to stop
meddling in Turkish affairs. The two will probably meet in Brussels on
Thursday.

2) Parliament Member Mushegh Movsisian Passes Away

YEREVAN (Armenpress)–Armenian parliament member Mushegh Movsisian, 48,
died on
Saturday after months of treatment for heavy injuries he sustained earlier
this
year in an automobile accident.
Born in the Aygek village of Etchmiadzin, Movsisian was a physical training
instructor, before he left for Mountainous Karabagh to fight against Azeri
troops. He served as a community leader in his native village from 1994 to
1996, and was subsequently elected to parliament.
In late 1999, Movsisian was arrested on suspicion of complicity in the 1999
Armenian parliament shootings. After spending seven months in prison, he was
released on June 5, 2000, when a court ruled that the claim used to detain him
was groundless.

3) Prime Minister Margarian Addresses Nation on Occasion of Independence Day

YEREVAN (Armenpress)–Prime Minister Andranik Margarian addressed the
nation on
Monday on the occasion of Armenia’s independence from the Soviet Union.
Margarian stressed that the road leading to independence and during various
periods has not been an easy one, but has been paved with numerous
difficulties
which continue to persist, “but our unbending will and the ability to unite
our
efforts at crucial times for solving our national problems, and the desire to
live freely in our homeland have helped us. . .”
He urged citizens to be intolerant of those forces that threaten to incite
new
clashes among nations and states, and pose a threat to civilized nations,
in “a
restless world.”
He also called for uniting efforts in Armenia, Mountainous Karabagh Republic,
and Diaspora, so as to withstand any and all challenges. “By strengthening our
state, we pay respects to our dedicated heroes, who sacrificed their lives to
pave the way for our independence,” said Margarian.

4) Merzliakov Refutes Statements in Azeri Press

YEREVAN (Combined Sources)–The Russian co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Yuri
Merzliakov refuted recent reports in the Azeri press, following the September
16 meeting between Armenian president Robert Kocharian, and Azeri counterpart
Ilham Aliyev, in Astana Kazakhstan.
According to those accounts, Merzliakov was quoted as saying that one of the
proposals discussed concerned the pullout of Armenian forces from the
“occupied
territories in the vicinity of Karabagh, the return of refugees, and
guarantees
for their security,” and that the proposals of the OSCE co-chairs maintain the
“principle of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.”
Asking for clarification, the Armenian foreign ministry press and information
department received a direct response from Merzliakov who said that no such
statements or comments were made to the reporters–neither during the meeting
in Astana, nor afterwards.

5) Celebrations Mark Anniversaries of Anjar and Musa Ler

ANJAR–The 89th anniversary of the historic battle of Musa Ler and the 65th
anniversary celebration of the formation of Anjar, kicked off this year on
September 18 in Anjar.
From morning on, both young and old gathered to re-establish their
pilgrimage.
After the lamb “madagh,” the preparation of the traditional “herissa” began.
In the evening, ARF “Garmeer Ler” educational committee organized a public
gathering, with Movses Herguelian offering the opening remarks. He stated that
the battle of Musa Dagh was a historic event that provided a standard for the
entire world.
The festive evening continued with Mampre Simonian singing patriotic songs
for
nearly two hours, inspiring the spirit of revolution passed down from their
ancestors.
With the traditional “davul, zourna,” the evening came to an end with dancing
and keeping alive the eternal memory of Musa Dagh’s eighteen martyrs, who lost
their lives in 1915 during the bloody battle. Their tombs are on the Mountain
of Musa (Samandagh today) near the monument dedicated to them.
The celebration continued the next day, as a congratulatory message forwarded
by President Robert Kocharian was read by Armenia’s Ambassador to Lebanon Areg
Hovhannisian. Kocharian noted that Musa Dagh serves as a symbol of Armenian
spirit and patriotism.

6) AYF Gears up for 2nd Annual Little Armenia Cleanup

GLENDALE–The Armenian Youth Federation is getting ready for its 2nd Annual
Little Armenia Cleanup, this Saturday, September 25, and with registration
deadline around the corner, sign up immediately!
The cleanup, co-sponsored by Los Angeles City Councilmember Eric Garcetti’s
office, will help remove litter and weed from major streets in Little Armenia.
Volunteers of all ages are encouraged to gather at the Rose and Alex Pilibos
Armenian School, where the clean-up will begin at 8:00 AM.
According to the Los Angeles City Sanitation Department, volunteers cleaned
over 23,000 pounds of litter during last year’s cleanup. This year, the AYF
hopes to exceed this number with the help of more volunteers.
Those who wish to volunteer should provide their complete name, telephone
number, address, and t-shirt size to the organizing committee by emailing
[email protected] or call (818) 507-1933. Registered volunteers will be provided
a t-shirt, lunch, and water throughout the day.
“We are honored to have a part of Los Angeles named after our homeland,” said
Vicken Sosikian, Public Affairs Director of the AYF. “Positive feedback
received from Little Armenia businesses and residents after the cleanup last
year, along with our efforts to expand service to our communities, have led us
to make the cleanup an annual effort,” explained Sosikian.
For more information about the 2nd Annual Little Armenia Cleanup or about AYF
in general, please visit AYFwest.org.

7) Is Our Community Obsessed with Smoke and Mirrors?

By Skeptik Sininkian

The other day I finally had time to go over my stack of news I
ritualistically
print out every week from various websites in order to stay informed and up to
date on what’s new in the world. As I passed over the story of how Michael
Jackson moon walked on the roof of an SUV surrounded by members of the rhythm
Nation of Islam, ignored the Scott Peterson and Mark Geragos Modesto Media
Carnival, and threw away the stories about Kobe Bryant’s sexual misconduct, I
almost sprayed my morning coffee all over my keyboard and desk after reading
“Frustrated Chimp Takes Up Smoking–A chimpanzee has taken up smoking and
spitting, according to China’s Xinhua news agency.” Folks, I couldn’t make
this
stuff up if I tried. I’ll spare you the details of the story except to say
that
the “poor” chimp was driven to smoking out of sexual frustration.
Now some of you may wonder where I’m going with this, but let me assure
you, I
have a point. Actually, I have a few but this is a family publication and my
views on our community and sexual frustrations will not fit in the space
allowed for my column. But for starters, let me say that I can understand a
caged animal, thousands of miles away from his/her native habitat, constantly
surrounded by prying eyes and without privacy or a soul mate, resorting to
smoking. After all, apes may share DNA with us but they’re still animals and
unable to reason. But I doubt that the youth in our community have it as
bad as
or worse than this poor chain smoking chimp. Yet every day, when I walk down
Brand Boulevard in Glendale or walk out of a coffee shop, I see throngs of
young Armenians polluting their lungs with cancer sticks. And they’re not even
caged up! Even worse, most aren’t even old enough to smoke. These kids look
old
but are no older than 15 at the most! Most of these twelve year olds sport
mustaches thicker than anything I ever grew in college during my “Sgt. Pepper”
phase. I’m willing to bet $10 that most of these kids can’t buy cigarettes
legally. They’re either lifting it from their parents, who continue to
smoke in
front of their children and thus encourage them, or are buying them from
vendors who are breaking the law. Either way, smoking has become an epidemic
amongst our community and it seems as though no one really cares. For a
community that is so vain in the clothes they wear, the cars they drive, the
restaurants they eat at, it amazes me that they are too stupid to realize that
smoking makes them look like a sweaty third world car mechanic.
California has taken some bold and admirable steps to try and curb this
nastiest of nasty habits but there is still a lot of work to be done. If
someone ever did a study of the Armenian community, I’m sure they’d find
Armenians smoking on the rise. For a community that prides itself on being
well-informed and educated, we seem to have missed the memo about all the
risks
that smoking poses to one’s health. Most folks know the damage that smoking
does but here’s some other facts that you may not have known
().

–About one in every five deaths in the US can be attributed to tobacco
related products.

–About 50,000 people a year die from second hand smoke in the US.

–2000 teenagers start smoking every day.

–Over 80 percent of all adult smokers started smoking before they were 18.

–Tobacco companies make about 1.8 billion dollars a year from underage
sales.

Our children are already stupid–addicted to the internet and video games.
Because of tobacco, our children are also going to grow up unhealthy and at a
greater risk of dying of cancer and other smoking related diseases.
What’s so attractive about smoking anyway? I lose count when trying to recall
how many times I’ve been to an Armenian dance or event and found more people
standing outside smoking than inside dancing. Mothers, daughters, sons,
fathers–even toothless grandfathers–all stand around puffing away and
polluting the air for those of us who want to take a break from the
overwhelming obnoxious heat from toxic levels of sweat inside the venue.
Forget
smoking outside, there’s always that one tough guy who thinks he’s Joe Pesci
from Goodfellas and has to smoke inside the building during the event. He
takes
a drag off of his cigarette as if his life depended on it. You know the
type of
smoker I’m talking about. The one’s who light the cigarette and then look like
they’re in pain as they inhale and then look like they finished running a
marathon when they exhale. The next time you’re at an indoor event and someone
decides to light up, slap them with a piece of looleh kebab and tell him or
her
that Skeptik sent you.
But the ultimate example of Armenian ignorance combined with tobacco was
witnessed during a trip to Armenia. On the side of the road stood a man who
ran
a “gas station” which consisted of himself, a table, a homemade sign, and
glass
jars filled with petrol. (By the way, Armenia is the only place where I would
recommend buying gasoline from a person with a homemade sign). Now as the man
poured the gasoline into the tank of the car from the jars, a cigarette
bounced
up and down his chapped lower lip as he tried to make small talk. When warned
about the dangers of smoking while “pumping” or pouring gas from an open
container, his only reply was agreeing nod and an “I’ve heard of an accident
like that happening before. It’s really sad” comment. Maybe Armenians think
their immune to the affects of tobacco or large fireball explosions?
Consider the following. The average Armenian smoker smokes about one pack of
cigarettes a day. That’s roughly 4.50 cents per pack. That comes out to
approximately 31.50 cents a week. (Before I continue, I must warn you that
these calculations are based on figures derived from the legal procurement of
cigarettes instead of smuggling counterfeit Marlboros from Mexico). Now
with 52
weeks in a year, that comes out to 1638 dollars per person. Let’s say that out
of the 80,000 residents of Glendale who are Armenian, about half are male, and
let’s assume that a quarter of them smoke. That’s about 10,000 young punks and
old farts puffing away on cigarettes with logos like “Turkish Gold” or
“Turkish
Jade” or “Turkish blah blah blah.” Now imagine if they took their nasty daily
habit and instead donated their money to an Armenian charity. That would mean
16,380,000 dollars in funds for Armenian causes, schools, social programs,
etc.
Can you imagine how many lehmejoun’s 16 million dollars can buy?
So the next time you see an attractive boy or girl about to light up a
cigarette, instead of telling them that it’s their health that it’s harming,
tell them that their harming Armenia by literally burning their money.
Maybe if
we can get our act together here in the US, the chain smoking Armenians in
Republic Square in Armenia will soon follow. In the meantime, I’ll work on a
breakthrough in medical technology, a patch that will keep people from smoking
and mouthing off stupid comments and opinions. I call it the Skeptik Smoking
and Stupidity Suppressor. So far, all I have is a piece of duct tape that you
place over the patient’s mouth but it still needs more work.

Skeptik Sinikian lives and works in a pineapple under the sea and writes
poetry on bathroom stalls in his spare time. He can be reached for comment at
[email protected] or visit his blog at

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Calcutta Telegraph, India
Sept 20 2004

Shakuntala misses out on a foreign groom
– Govt sits on rash of requests for trained elephants as animal count
goes up
SWATI SENGUPTA

Captive trained elephants taking tourists around a reserve forest.
File picture

Calcutta, Sept. 19: Shakuntala could have lived happily ever after
with Grandik in Armenia. But Komala will.

The six-year-old from Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary lost out to Komala
from Mysore Zoo because matchmaker Bengal took longer than the
elephants to rise from slumber.

Shakuntala is among 76 elephants bred and being reared in captivity
in the reserves of Bengal.

They are breeding fast and the government is finding it increasingly
difficult to afford so many. A forest department official said: `We
have to spend a lot of money on the elephants, and cannot use them
effectively unless they are about eight to 10 years old and around
six-foot tall. A lot of manpower is also essential to grow and train
them.’

The elephants live in Jaldapara, Buxa Tiger Reserve and Gorumara
National Park. Jhargram has two specially trained kunki elephants.
These are used for patrolling forests, taking tourists around and
capturing wild animals.

The forest department official said at least 14 out of the 76 in its
custody `can be sent elsewhere’.

But the Bengal government, which is flooded with requests from other
states and abroad to hand over some of them, is yet to take a
decision.

The official said: `Individuals are not allowed to exchange animals
against money, but governments can. The idea is to sell some of the
baby elephants and use the money for the others.’ But proposals from
several states and abroad are `pending’ with Writers’ Buildings.

The Central Zoo Authority wrote to the chief wildlife wardens of
Bengal, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Jharkhand saying
Delhi had decided to gift an elephant to Armenian President Robert
Kocharian and sought to know the possibility of `gifting a captive
born female’ between six and eight years old.

During his visit to India when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was Prime
Minister, Kocharian had apparently discussed the possibility of
taking a female companion for Grandik, a resident male of Yerevan Zoo
in Armenia.

A senior official of the forest department said the Bengal government
had been told about the availability of such elephants in the state.
Shakuntala was named among the most eligible. `However, we did not
receive any response,’ the official said.

Komala, who is seven-and-a-half years old, would be in Armenia next
month. Bipul Chakrabarty, the scientific officer of the Central Zoo
Authority, told The Telegraph: `The Karnataka government responded
faster than Bengal, and so we are happy to send Komala to Armenia.
She will be airlifted from Bangalore by October 15.’

Four officials from the Mysore zoo – a vet, a range officer, a
supervisor and an animal keeper – will accompany Komala to her new
home and stay there for a month, by when she is expected to get
acclimatised.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Daily Item of Lynn
Sept 20 2004

Estimated 100,000 attend 21st Peabody International Festival
By Jack Butterworth

PEABODY — An estimated 100,000 people crowded into Peabody Square
Sunday afternoon to enjoy art, music, dance and food from the city’s
diverse cultural traditions and remember the former Peabody mayor who
brought the Peabody International Festival together 21 years ago.

As always, it was a day to support high school students, service
clubs and cultural groups, a day to sing and dance to the music of
the world, or just to inhale the aromas of sausages and pies and
cotton candy and look at young people in bright peasant costumes.

Peter A. Torigian was a man who could walk through the booths
crowded together along Lowell Street, greet the volunteers at each
booth by name and order food from each, correctly pronounced.

Mayor Michael Bonfanti asked for a moment of silence for
Torigian.

“I can’t tell you how proud I am to be with you today,” he said.
Referring to the intolerance and injustice that can be seen elsewhere
in the world, he told the crowd, “If we can live in harmony here it
can be done throughout the world.”

U.S. Rep. John Tierney, D-Salem, attending the festival with his
wife, Patrice, said, “What a wonderful tribute to Peter Torigian and
all the wonderful things he did for the city. Tolerance and diversity
were important to Peter Torigian.”

Councilor and former festival Chairman Judy Selesnick remembered
the first festival: 27 booths, 22 of them serving food, and nearly
8,000 people when 1,500 were expected.

“By 2 p.m. there wasn’t a morsel of food in Peabody Square,” she
said, “and at 6 Mayor Torigian took Jackie (Torigian) me, Mary
(Bellavance) and Debbie (MacGregor) to dinner because we missed out
on any food.”

One year there were skydivers, who missed Peabody Square and
landed on the rooftops of nearby homes. They didn’t come back.

Mayor or not, Torigian’s one traditional duty at the festival
was introducing the traditional Armenian dancers from Sayat Nova of
Boston. This year, with former Councilor John McGinn doing the
introduction, Sayat Nova announced that the proceeds from their booth
would go to the Peabody Lynnfield YMCA for the Y’s renovation.
Chairing the fund-raising for that was Torigian’s last civic project.

The former mayor’s influence could be felt elsewhere, in the
Peabody Art Association art show next to City Hall, where instructors
Marcy Consalvo and George Sippel displayed model ships from the class
they teach at the Peter Torigian Community Life Center.

Ruth Mowder stood by for the 10-year-old Peabody Art
Association, whose members loan artwork to the mayor’s office and
other City Hall offices.

At the Friends of the Library table Library Director Martha
Holden said the library’s 150th anniversary celebration Saturday
night, which began as a tribute to George Peabody for funding the
first city library, included a dedication to Torigian as a tribute.

“He brought culture back to the city,” she said. Attended by
nearly 300 persons, the event featured music from a number of
historical periods. There weren’t any dancers on the floor for the
earliest music, from the 1860s, and Holden had to agree that Torigian
probably would have given that a try, along with the swing era music
that was dedicated to him.

“It was beautiful,” Library Trustee Darryl Anne McCarthy said.
“It couldn’t have been better.”

Judy Meserve and Barry Osborne, the new Festival co-chairs
greeting the crowd for the first time, praised Bonfanti for believing
in the festival and Selesnick and Bellavance for running it so
efficiently for the past 20 years.

“This will never die,” Osborne said. “This event runs itself.”

Glendale News Press
LATimes.com
Sept 20 2004

A chance to celebrate freedom and family

Sixth annual Armenian Independence Day Festival at Verdugo Park
brings together friends and family for music, dancing and poetry.

By Darleene Barrientos, News-Press

NORTHEAST GLENDALE – Laying large chunks of meat to roast over a
picnic grill at Verdugo Park was just the beginning for Hagop Zolyan
and his family and friends.

Zolyan, of Pasadena, his best friend Kevork Ohannessian, also of
Pasadena, and Ohannessian’s brother-in-law, Gregory Tatulyan, of
North Hollywood, all brought their families to enjoy the entire day
at the park, for the sixth annual Armenian Independence Day Festival.
Thousands of Armenian Americans descended on Verdugo Park, 1621
Cañada Blvd., to celebrate their independence with traditional song,
dance and poetry.

The three men had staked out a picnic table next to a grill, with
plans to sing, dance, play chess and, of course, eat.

“We go to this festival every year. It’s a family reunion – an
Armenian reunion,” Ohannessian said.

The annual festival took on the appearance of an enormous family
reunion, with thousands of people staking out grassy floor space with
folded chairs, beach chairs, blankets and card tables in front of the
stage to watch live Armenian singers and dancers.

Maryam Abedian, of Montrose, wandered toward the picnic tables,
intent on discovering what was going to happen at the festival.

“We came because we want to see what they’re going to do – the
singing, the dancing,” she said. “I also see my family here. At this
place, you can find family, friends.”

The Nor Serount Cultural Assn. and the Gaidz Youth Organization
organized the event to celebrate Armenian culture and commemorate
Armenia’s independence from the former Soviet Union, which was on
Sept. 21, 1991. Organizers expected between 5,000 and 6,000 people to
attend the festival.

Throughout the day, families poured through the entrances, clutching
chairs, as children rushed by with balloons in hand, or on bikes or
Rollerblades. Dignitaries like Assemblywoman Carol Liu (D-La Cañada
Flintridge) and Councilman Frank Quintero, were also on hand, wishing
everyone a happy independence day.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich sent a
representative and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Glendale) was also scheduled
to attend, organizer Garry Sinanian said.

It’s a privilege to be able to go to a festival to enjoy music and
food, he said.

“As Armenian Americans, we’re proud to have the freedom to enjoy our
culture,” Sinanian said. “This is a great way for the community to
come together.”

Land mines kill 36, wound 48 in Azerbaijan since 2001

ANS TV, Baku
16 Sep 04

The Azerbaijani National Agency for Mine Action has reported that
20-year-old soldier Emil Nariman oglu Agayev has been wounded as a
land mine planted during the first Karabakh war went off in the area
of Hasanqaya. Emil Agayev was called up from the Haciqabul military
enlistment office. His left leg was amputated below his knee.

According to statistics from different sources, 36 people died and 48
received wounds of varying degrees of severity in 51 landmine blasts
since 2001.